Go Get Tested! Today Is National HIV Testing Day

Today is National HIV Testing Day, and with the African-American community hardest hit by this disease, we implore all to go get tested.

The president spoke this weekend on the importance of this day.

“National HIV Testing Day reminds each of us to do our part in fighting HIV/AIDS and get tested,” President Obama said in a White House statement. His administration released a National HIV/AIDS Strategy last July, with the goals of reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to care, and reducing HIV-related health disparities.

“One in five Americans living with HIV is not aware of their infection and this research highlights the imperative of making sure people know their HIV status and getting those who do have HIV into care,” the President said.

African-Americans account for 60 percent of tests and 70 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the study done by the CDC. Black people are also 1.6 times more likely to test positive for HIV than whites or Hispanics.